GREGG WIELAND: Raise Amtrak ticket prices

According to the Merced Sun-Star on Jan. 2, Caltrans is subsidizing the San Joaquin Amtrak corridor to the tune of $90 million per year.

Just the San Joaquin is being subsidized at $5.79 per ticket. At 1,144,616 riders last year, that equals more than $6.6 million subsidized. The Capitol Corridor has 1,746,397 riders, so that means another $10 million subsidized. Ticket prices going up $6 each will reduced the subsidy by more than $17 million and free up money for our highways, at least until ridership decreases again when we get high-speed rail.

GREGG WIELAND

Merced